Apparatus for forming sheets of nickel or other metal by electrolysis



(No Model}) M. G. PARMBR. A

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHEETS 0F NICKEL OR OTHER METAL BY EL'EcTEoLYsIs.

.N0.881,0'0-4, V w Patent edApf.10,1888

WITNESSES.

. Umrnn STATES MosEs G. FARMEB,

PATENT am.

or ELIOT, MAINE.

' APPARATUMS EORFFORMING SHEETS orN cKn 0R other METAL-BY ELECTROLYSISV SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No, sa1;oo4, dated April 10,1888. Application filed October 1-1, 1887. Serial No. 252.529. (No model.) i I i In practicing my invention I make use of 1 two or more tanks,,wh-ich I connect in series,

as will be hereinafter explained. In each tank I support as an anode, in a proper solution, a

- bent or curved'sheet of metal, and above it, as a cathode, I support a ring or hoop of copper or brass on insulating bearings. This hoop I cause to revolve in the solution. By passing a current from the anode to the hoop I deposit the metal upon the hoop to the desired thickness, and I then strip it off in sheets. This may be readily done by varnishing the inner surface of the hoop, so that no metal may adhere thereto, and by preparing the outer surface of the hoop so that the deposited metal will not cllng to it. y This may be done in many ways well known in the art," as by rubbing it with powdered plumbago.

This apparatus and the particularmethod of using it pursued by me in forming the metal sheets will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is avertical central section of a depositing-plant comprising two tanks and a generator of current. Fig. 2 is a vertica cross-section of oneof the tanks. I .40 A A are boxes or tanks of the kind usually employed in electro-depositing metals. All the tanks being alike, Ishall describe butone. Above the tank'are rollers B B, two in number, mounted in suitable bearings, from which they may be readily raised, and are arranged to turn freely therein. These rollers aremade of wood, stone,or any like material, and are, covered with cloth, such as canvas. They are provided with heads or flanges G C, and one so is provided with a pulley, P, by which it is a pivoted lever, F, carrying bearingsc c, in

rotated byany suitablesource of power. 'These rollers serve as a guide for a hoop or. ring, E,I which is used'in each tank; Thehoop E isa -.thin strip or sheet of brass or copper bent into circular shape and soldered to form a band or ring with a smooth and even surface. Either a series of metal disksonaspindle or a metal I lie-cylinder, D, is supported over the tankby which it turnsfreely. A v

Under the hoop E isa curved band or piece, E, of the metal to'be dissolved; 1 This, band 1 forms .the anode of the tank, and is connected to the positive pole of the generatororthe pivoted lever and cylinder of another tank, as 5 i the case may be. I A

As above stated, the innersurface and edges.

of the hoop are painted or varnishediand the.

other peripheral surface prepared to receive a deposit of metal. The tank is then nearlyv 7o filled with a proper solution and the current" directed froma battery or generator, M, from .the band E to the hoop E through-the solu-' tion. I run several tanks in series, and for,

this purpose connect the lever F (which is'of 7'5 metal or contains a conductor in electrical connection with the hoop E) of one tank with the plate E of the next.

.As a specific example of the dimensions and v A character of one of these tanks, the following 8r. will be found to give good results: Use a sheet of brass or copper making a hoop a littleover fifteen inches in diameter, fourteen inches wide, and about one-sixteenth of an inch thick. A A The tank may be seventeen or eighteen inches 8 5 square by ten or more deep. The rollers 'may be three or four inches in diameter and some- I what longer than the width of thehoop. One or both of the rollers B may be driven by power at a slow rateof speed say one revolution per. 0 minute;- but it will generally be sufficient to rotate one for imparting movement tothe I hoopE. f

' The invention is more particularly designed toproduce sheets of nickel, and when using 5 I nearly fill the tank'with some solutionof 106" nickel that is desired asa depositing solution such as the double sulphate or the double nitrate of nickel and ammonia-and pass the current through the tanks successively while the hoops are revolving.

In order that there may be as little leakage or escape of current as possible, I use under the tanks, and generator as well, blocks or supports, N, of some good insulating material. To secure good'results the insulation must be such that the loss of currentfrom the vats shall be so small that the current will be within less than ten per cent. of the same amount in each cell of the series. By such means only can the same amount of metal be deposited in each one by a series of tanks connected up as shown. The number of tanks 'to be run in series will be varied, of course; but the rule is to use that number in series which will give, with the electro-motive force furnished and the resistance encountered, that strength of current which gives the desired quality of deposited metal.

In some cases I varnish a narrow streak across the hoop, so as to produce a break in the deposited sheet of metal, and in this way I avoid the necessity of cutting across the sheet.

The two principal and important features of this invention, it will be observed, are the means of supporting the cathode by rollers on both sides of the hoop for the purpose of preventing the oscillations of the same to or away from the anode; second, having the disks or rollers that convey the current from the hoops hung on a pivot or axle, so that they or it may be readily turned aside for taking out or putting in a hoop.

What I claim is 1. -In a depositing-tank, the combination of a curved plate immersed in the solution and forming the anode, a cathode ring or hoop having a peripheral conducting-surface mounted above said plate, and supporting and steadying rollers on opposite sides of the ring or hoop, as set forth.

' 2. The combination, in a depositing tank or vat, of a curved anode sheet or plate immersed in the solution, a cathode ring or hoop having aperipheral conducting-surface, two supporting-rollers inside of the hoop, and an outer pivoted steadying and conducting roller resting on its periphery, as set forth.

3. The combination,in an electrolytical tank .or bath, with a fixed anode, of a hoop or cylinder of metal for receiving a deposit, two insulated rollers forming bearings for said hoop, a contact cylinder or roller carried by a pivoted lever and bearing upon the hoop above the supporting-rollers, and means for rotating the hoop in the bath, as set forth.

MOSES G. FARMER.

Witnesses:

SARAH J. FARMER, WALLACE E. DIXON. 

